Conservation-tillage conference set

Producers wanting to learn more about increased production at less cost will want to plan on attending the nation's leading conservation-tillage production conference Jan. 13-14.

“This is our eighth annual conference,” says John LaRose, publisher of MidAmerica Farm Publications, which sponsors the National Conservation-Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. “As farmers look for more ways to hone their production methods to trim inputs while boosting yields, this conference has become a must-attend event for growers in the southern U.S.”

The 2005 conference will be at the Park Plaza Reliant Center in Houston. Cotton Incorporated and the U.S. Rice Producers Association are partners in production of the conference.

“The main emphasis of the program is on reducing production costs and increasing yields in cotton, rice, corn, and soybeans,” LaRose says.

“There will be 12 conference rooms for breakout sessions. All sessions are producer-friendly, with presentations in panel format. Presentations are given twice or three times during the conference to insure that producers can have access to all the topics.”

In addition to researchers who will discuss large-scale trials that address a variety of conservation-tillage practices and problems, producers will also share their “how to make it work” experiences.

In addition to the latest information on the major crops of the southern states, there will also be sessions on precision agriculture.

“There is no better meeting for producers to learn about new techniques and systems for reducing tillage, fertility, pesticide, herbicide, and planting costs,” LaRose says.

“While the term ‘conservation-tillage’ was originally applied to techniques for conserving soil by reducing the potential for wind and water erosion, farmers quickly found these practices could also cut their fuel, labor, and other input costs.

“More recently, farmers and landlords have learned that a great many other resources can be conserved through a properly designed conservation-tillage program. The importance of conserving soil moisture and reducing fuel, labor, and input costs has been a key to economic survival for many farmers.”